Chapter 2

….. a family lived peacefully in a cottage a couple blocks away from the village. They raised a farm of vegetables and fruits to sell in the market to earn a living. The family consist a man, his beautiful wife, and fraternal twin girls, Maylene and Carly. The girls were about six years old and their mother was expecting a third child.

One day as Maylene and Carly hummed a tune together on the way back home, Carly spotted smoke from the direction of their house. The girls rushed towards the scene only to stare in horror as their home was surrounded in flames.

Carly, the youngest twin rushed and called out to her parents as she ran inside hoping to rescue them. Maylene called out to her and warned her, but Carly didn't hear her. The flames blocked the entrance and exit before Maylene could snatch Carly away.

Maylene was then left alone, scorned in loneliness and anguish. She fell to her knees as salty tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped onto the ground. Who could have done this? And why?

The girl sat there even after the fire calmed down leaving the burnt remains of the house and plants. She heard footsteps nearby by until it approached her.

"You poor thing," the man spoke almost sympathetically. "Who could have done such a thing?" he shook his head in disappointment.

She didn't look behind her as a gloved black hand cupped her shoulder. A breath of a man whisked against her ear as he breathed and spoke which caused a chill down her spine.

"I can help you find that person who did this," he offered with a grin that hid one of a crook. "Would you accept my offer?"

The girl looked at him, tempted to accept. She wiped her dry eyes from her sleeves and nodded. The man grinned and lend out his hand to her.

"Shall we?"

Maylene let out a sigh a bit of relief. She glanced up at her clock on her desk that read 1:11 am. She thought she should get some rest since work starts in the next five hours. She closed her notebook thinking she would continue either during her break or after work. With that she placed the book and pen beside her clock. She blew out her candle and wished the world good night before falling into a deep sleep.

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"Maylene, its time to wake up."

The maid moaned in her sleep as a bit of drool dripped on her pillow. A white gloved hand gently shook her by the shoulders.

"Maylene….."

She stirred for a moment and slowly opened her eyes to meet a blurred image. As she recognized the figure, she almost jumped from her bed startled.

"S-s-s-s-Sebastian-san!" that was…how many times did he startle her during the times she was a maid at the Phantomhive manor now? Her cheeks flushed red in response to how close his face was to hers.

Sebastian stood upright regaining his posture. "It's nice to see you finally up," he remarked bluntly with a little hint of irritation. He walked towards the exit and continued. "After you get dressed and breakfast, report to your duties immediately." He glanced at her with a stern look, his red eyes piercing through her amber ones. "Is that clear?"

Maylene nodded. With that Sebastian closed the door behind him. Maylene glanced at her clock and shrieked. It was 7: 12 am! She quickly undressed and dressed herself in her maid uniform and rushed out of her room down the hallway. She was two hours late of work!

She bit her lip nervously hoping the Young Master haven't found out. However, the thought of it made her anxious.

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Maylene wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. She accidently broke two dishes while polishing and washing them, which she thought she at least didn't break five or more. She was able to put the right amount of detergent in the washing machine and didn't confuse the shoe polisher with the wood polisher. She smiled inwardly, proud that she was getting better of doing things right. She mused that Sebastian may be proud too seeing how much she progressed.

She paused her thoughts as her stomach gurgled. She placed her hand on her stomach. It was lunch time. As she made her way to throw out the dirty water, not remembering that the floor was still a little wet, she slipped and fell backwards. The bucket flew out of her grasps onto her head. Maylene frowned and gave a small whimper as the water splashed on her and on the floor. Now, she had to start over washing and polishing the floor.

"Maylene"

The maid winced as she heard a harsh mellow tone behind her. She didn't dare to look him in the eye. She waited to hear his scolding of being so clumsy. Her stomach growled.

"Go and change and eat. I'll take care of this."

Maylene's eyes widened a little in astonishment. She glanced behind her to see Sebastian giving her an assured nod. She stared at him, surprised. She felt her heart skip a beat.

"Go before I'll change my mind," he warned. "And be more careful next time."

Maylene stood on her feet. "Ah! O-okay! A-and Sebastian-san?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm….I'm very sorry," she apologized, bowing her head. She then left to her room to change. Sebastian watched after her as her figure went out of eyeshot.

"Sebastian"

The butler turned to meet his Young Master's eyes at his name.

"I thought I heard a splash a few moments ago."

"It was nothing," the butler assured.

Ciel scanned the floor below him then averted them. "Sebastian, clean the mess up."

Sebastian gave slight curt. "Yes, my lord."

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She closed the door behind her and sat on her bed. She placed her plate beside her. On the plate was a half-triangular cut tuna sandwich with lettuce and wheat bread. Earlier as soon as she left the kitchen, she declined Bard and Finny's request to eat lunch with them as usual. She told them she had "other things to take care of".

Maylene glanced at her clock. She had five minutes until lunch break was over. She can write a bit more she thought optimistically. She grabbed her notebook and pen. She read the contents of what she wrote so far, then pondered for a moment on what to write next.

"Ah!"

10 years have past….

The man informed Maylene that in order to find the culprit of her family's death, she had to become an assassin for her revenge. She went through serious training over the years and went on missions. Even though her heart bled with guilt as her hands stained with more and more blood, the man gave her no choice but to follow orders.

"You want to find the one responsible, don't you?" he reminded her with an inch of threat present in his tone. He always threatened her and reminded her of her family.

Maylene became confused, used for the man's ambitions to kill important people and his enemies. What is trust? She wondered. Does becoming an assassin a good idea to search for that one person?

She stood on the rooftop of a high building. She adjusted the magnifier with her eye locked on her target, a middle aged man. She was ordered to kill the Senator. She placed her finger and as she was about to pull the trigger on her rifle, she spotted the Senator's wife and two children greeting him.

Seeing the family reminded her of the one she lost. As she pulled back, a voice of an old man spoke from behind her.

"You're lonely aren't you, young miss?"

Maylene glanced behind her to meet a tall old man in a butler suit. "Who are you?" she inquired sternly.

"I'm here under orders from my Young Master," the man replied simply. "I can assure you a life you won't regret and feel guilt." He lend out his gloved white hand.

Maylene glanced at his hand then into his eyes. Should she trust this man? Was he lying or telling the truth of this life he spoke of? On the other hand, she didn't want to feel remorse and shed more blood anymore.

"Just so you know, I never lie," he said.

Maylene took his hand. The elder smiled. "The Young Master had looked foreword to meeting you, young miss."

Maylene became awed as Tanaka, the butler of Phantomhive brought her there. She soon met the Young Master Ciel Phantomhive. She became surprised on how a 12-year-old boy could manage a huge toy company on his own. He welcomed her as if she was a guest and told her she would be a maid at the manor. She accepted the job.

Maylene was a bit shy during the first few weeks, but as she became friends with Bard the cook and Finny the Gardener she became a bit more open.

She became happy in this new life as a maid until that very day….

She heard of a Black Prince living in a far away castle.

Maylene looked up at her clock as she finished her sentenced. She smiled. Just in time for her to get back to work. She closed her book and placed it and her pen beside her pillow.

She walked towards the door with the empty plate in hand. As she made her way down the hallway, she will continue later tonight and think of ideas what to come next.

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Chii-kun: I'm glad some of you liked this story so far and thanks for the reviews and all!

Well…. Uh…nothing else to say…except I felt a little light-headed while working on this chapter… I feel better now! Just…. hate the heat!

Anyway… Read and Review!